An Empirical Study on Adolescent Female Delinquency in Taiwan Area

Using self-reported data collected from a sample of 193 female juvenile offenders from two institutes (including one training school and one juvenile prison) in Taiwan, this study assesses the empirical adequacy and conceptual utility of the theoretical integration model with the perspectives of a general of crime and social learning theory. The statistical techniques used in this study include: percentage, correlation analysis, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis and path analysis.

The findings showed that the total amount of variance accounted for by a general theory of crime is 15.4% (R square=.154), and the amount by social learning theory is 28.8% (R square=.288). Obviously, the explanatory power of social learning theory is stronger than a general theory of crime. In addition, the total amount of variance accounted for by all of the variables of integrated model is 39.2% (R square=.392).

The most explanatory power variable to be found is differential peer association, whose explanatory power is 20.3%. The second explanatory power variable to be found is risk, whose explanatory power is 9.1%. In sum, the present study finds that there are complex individual, family, school, and societal factors contributing juvenile female delinquency.

Therefore, preventive strategy should be multi-dimensional, and efforts at least include as follows: improving the follow-up of drop-outs and their guidance, enhancing self-control ability, reinforcing the knowledge of law, strengthening vocational training and guidance, broadening-long life learning, and advocating healthy recreation leisure activity for female juveniles.